Johnson 2004 - CDLI - UCLA

earing the *bi-√ prefix generally) do correspond to certain discursive functions of G-
stem perfect verbs in Akkadian. Streck identifies three primary functions of iptaras, the
Akkadian perfect: (a) “it designates anteriority in the future in main clauses, subordinate
clauses and conditional clauses,” (b) it is used “to express the temporal progress in main
clauses, subordinate clauses and conditional clauses,” and (c) to refer to “the isolated past
in main clauses of direct speech” (a usage that Streck limits the letters of Hammurapi
[Streck 1998, 190; cf. 1999, 103]). Streck draws a parallel between the first of these uses
and the Sumerian prospective, illustrating the usage (also found in Codex Ur-Namma
§§13f and Codex Lipit-Ißtar §§11, 14, 20b, 30, 32a) with Codex Lipit-Ißtar §14.
(35) Codex Lipit-Ißtar §14
tukum.bi ir 11 lu 2.ke 4 lugal.a.ni.ir nam.ir 11.da.ni ba.an.da.gur lugal.a.ni.ir nam.ir 11.da.ni
a.ra 2 2(diß).am 3 un.ge.en ir 11.bi al.bur 2.e
If a man’s slave has contested his slave status against his master, and it has been
proven that his master has been compensated for his slavery two-fold, that slave
shall be free.
which Streck compares to §196 from Codex Hammurapi (Streck 1998, 190):
130